The former tight end was at his first training camp with the Saints 15 years ago when he underwent their standard rookie hazing: A pillowcase was put over his head and he ran down a hallway while each player got his own shot.

“Guys were just rabid,” Cleeland told the Los Angeles Times. “And you had a couple guys in the front that would stand in a three-point stance, and you would fire off the line like he was going to knock you over.

“You tried to make it through, and they literally just beat the ever-loving crap out of you as you tried to get through. Everything you can imagine, from kicking, punching, scrapping.”

Cleeland’s case is back on the radar this week as the ugly Jonathan Martin-Richie Incognito situation boils up in Miami. Martin, now in his second season, left the Dolphins last week after allegedly being the victim of repeated, cruel bullying.

Incognito was suspended following the revelation of a voicemail in which he hurled racial slurs at Martin. On Thursday night, Martin’s lawyer, David Cornwell, released a scathing statement in which he said Martin was the victim of a “malicious physical attack,” but did not specify which teammate was involved.

Cleeland’s hazing ended tragically. Andre Royal, a free-agent linebacker, had been collecting pennies all day from teammates and put them in a sock that he would swing wildly at Cleeland. Royal’s blow shattered Cleeland’s eye socket and nearly cost him his eye. He still deals with partial vision.

“I was full of adrenaline at that time,” Cleeland told the paper. “You’re in that fight-or-flight mode, survival mode. You’ve got to get through. So I made it through, and next thing you know my nose is bleeding all over.”

Cleeland, who went on to play eight years in the NFL, would cross paths with Incognito on the Rams when the team drafted the offensive lineman in 2005. He does not sound surprised by some of the reports that now surround Incognito.

“I’m not afraid to say that he was an immature, unrealistic scumbag,” Cleeland said. “When it came down to it, he had no personality, he was a locker-room cancer, and he just wanted to fight everybody all the time. It was bizarre beyond belief.”

After his incident, Cleeland was told by then-Saints coach Mike Ditka that he “should have just popped those guys in the mouth.” Cleeland did not agree with the notion of physical retaliation then and does not agree with people who are now saying that about Martin.

“Any NFL player that gives Martin a hard time — I don’t know him — but any guy who says, ‘This guy should have been a tough guy, should have stood up to him,’ it’s BS,” he said. “I don’t care if you’re a good guy or not, you don’t deserve that kind of treatment in any workplace. You’ve got to be tough. We’re all tough guys. But in the end, you’re still a human being.”

What's Your Take?

The problem for all those who want to change the culture now, is that the entire Dolphin locker room is rallying around Incognito and not Martin. This result is really pissing off those who want to inflict a new level level of political correctness into another closed culture. Out of the wood work comes former players who now suddenly were victims of locker room atrocities. Meanwhile on Sunday's these gladiators takes their lives in their hands for a large payday and to entertain millions of fans who have been drinking since 8am in parking lots across AMerica working themselves up to frenzy in order to root for their players to physically incapacitate the enemy. This entire story line is so jaded it defies logic. Somehow this incredibly violent players are supposed to be docile teddy bears from Mon-Sat and violent ogres on Sunday's. Just doesn't work that way, these are violent people playing a violent game and they need to be properly prepared to survive on Sunday's. Anyone who thinks different simply deluding themselves and missing the point. This is a violent game played by violent men and they all need to be ready and prepared on Sunday period

The NFL and the management of the Dolphins will do anything to cover this story up. The league is at an all time high in popularity ( much of it due to gambling, fantasy leagues, etc.), and yet, it is slowly and systematically killing itself. The thugs in the league, the greed of the owners, the concussion settlement ( which was not commensurate with what the players should have gotten), the drunken fans who begin their partying at 8 AM, then get into fights, drive drunk after games and kill innocent people. All these factors will ultimately bring the league down. More and more, the league grows and so do the horror stories associated with it. I am a fan but finding it more difficult to find pleasure in watching games that take 3.5-4 hours, commercials laden programming with a few plays around the ads.. It has become unwatchable and unlikeable. I predict the NFL will cease to exist in 20 years.

It's really simple. Hazing should be outlawed by every sports team. Pro to H.S. It's stupid. You need to be concentrating on the game. Not a bunch of loser teammates who think that you need to prove yourself to them. If you haze somebody in the pro's, your contract should be voided. In college, you should be suspended for the season. That will stop the morons from doing it.

I'm sick of these idiot players. Less and less of them act like grown men. These idiot pose and posture any time they make an ordinary play. They're more worried about doing the salza or some other ridiculously choreographed dance move in the endzone than winning the game.

I used to be a rabid NFL fan, couldn't miss a game. Now, while it is often on in the background on Sundays I don't really watch. I surf the Internet and write emails. I have no interest in watching, dog killers, rapists, abusers of women, drunk drivers, murderers, gangsters, and now abusers of teammates etc. Just disgusted!

There is no reason for all of this other than bullies. There is no room for Bullies in our society at ANY Level from infants to NFL players. Pro Wrestling is a show an act. Boxing is meant to hurt someone, (a knockout a concussion) ) Football is suppose to be team work to win a game, Take the aggression out on the opposing team and not your own players.

I am beyond disgusted by this Incognito story specially because it truly sheds light into inappropriate working conditions, hazing, psychological abuse and the way the public at large reacts to these allegations. People who find little sympathy in Martin shows the lack of understand on abuse dynamics and are most likely the same kinds of people whose idea of dealing with abusers is to strike back and keep it under close doors. I truly hope this story truly blows up and ALL of those who were involved are sanctioned and shamed.

@Paul Vincent Zecchino Because Cam Cleeland has eye sight problems from what you refer to as a "tiff". They play for "massive compensation" because fans flock to the games and the wealthy and businesses buy the sky boxes and TV ratings continue sky high. If enough people are so repulsed that they decide to do something else on game day, the compensation question will be answered. What won't be answered is why Cam Cleeland's sight was impaired and Martin received a voice mail with racial epithets.

@V L No. The Dolphins management appears to be part of the problem rather than part of the solution. Let's see what investigators find out. If the problem goes to the top, management and everyone involved in any way should be terminated.

Before you make an ignorant comment like that, educate yourself with the 100s of kids who have died from supposed "innocent" hazing. Look no further than the member of the band who was KILLED doing the exact same "gauntlet" on his teams bus.

Sometimes it is better to sit and look stupid than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

I agree wholeheartedly...the morons who claim this is the wussufication of the US, I can guarantee they dont have children who were bullied, and they sure as hell don't have children who were students in a school where some bullied kid decided to shoot up the cafeteria. But that is the true problem...we are a nation of people who lack any empathy or compassion, and cannot comprehend a situation unless they are the ones whom Are victims...at which point they completely change their viewpoint.